Mitch Foster received an undergraduate degree in physical education and social studies from West Virginia Institute of Technology, and a master's degree in Occupational Safety and Health from Marshall University.

Foster taught and coached in public schools and worked as a coal industry industrial engineer and safety inspector/trainer in the coal industry for seven years.  He has five years experience in loss control for a general accident insurance company and 13 years with CNA Insurance Company as a loss control specialist.  He was also a loss control specialist for the West Virginia Board of Risk & Insurance Management.